‘My Facebook page cost me the job?!’
May 17, 2010 by Jared Bilski
At the very least, most employers peek at a candidates’ social networking profile in the selection process. So what turns them off the most?
A recent CareerBuilder study found that over one-third (35%) of hiring managers found content on job seekers’ social networking sites that reflected poorly on them.
The most prevalent examples included:
» Provocative or inappropriate photos or info from job seekers (53%)
» Content about job seekers drinking or using drugs (44%)
» Bad-mouthing a previous company, co-workers or clients (35%)
» Poor communication skills (29%)
» Discriminatory comments by job seeker (26%)
» Falsifying qualifications (24%), and
» Confidential info from previous employer on a job seeker’s page (20%).
Despite the fact that an increasing number of employers are using social networking sites to check up on prospective employees, many feel the practice violates individuals’ privacy rights.
Readers, what do you think? Should employers base hiring decisions on what they see on candidates’ social-networking sites? Does your company? Let us know in the Comments section.
MY THOUGHTS
well, well, well! not a bad idea. google the applicants? hmmmm.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Privacy is Dead: How to Network Now
Privacy is Dead: How To Network Now
By Linda Stern
Facebook recently changed its privacy settings and started pasting personal data all over the web, prompting some users to quit the site and many more to scrub their profiles of interesting bits. Google “accidentally” collected massive amounts of random personal data while its roving vans were supposed to be mapping streets. A waitress in North Carolina was fired after she used her status update to complain about a lousy tip. Oh… and your underwear is showing.
Just kidding about that last one, but these are clearly tough times for people who care about their privacy. These events should force us all to accept the truth: It’s over. If you’re using Facebook, Google, Twitter, a credit card, an online banking site, or any networked computer you’ve already got billions of bits of data floating everywhere. And that data is handled and massaged by thousands of clerks, coders, advertising consultants, and random wastepaper-basket emptiers. Even if everyone involved aims to “do no evil” as Google’s motto claims, mistakes happen.
So it falls to you to try to make sure those mistakes — or outright thefts — don’t hurt you. That doesn’t mean going net free or even living off of the social networking grid; that’s just too big a sacrifice for most people. But it does mean being more judicious about how your info is handled. And it also means choosing what to worry about and what not to worry about. Here are some recommendations:
Worry about your financial data. Use only the most trustworthy banking and financial management sites, and monitor your accounts regularly to make sure that there isn’t any unauthorized access going on. CBS MoneyWatch has produced an excellent guide to protecting your financial identity.
Accept some lack of privacy for the rest of your data. It’s the price you’ll pay for online fun and convenience. Does it matter if everyone knows you’re a soccer player or gardener or lover of old school hip hop music? Maybe not. But do you want to “like” particular products or companies that will use your click as an unpaid endorsement? If you suspect that publicizing your strong political opinions or your costly stored-at-home gold coin collection could be dangerous to your career or safety, keep them off of your social profiles.
Check your Facebook settings. A nifty new program called Privacy Scanner can check your Facebook settings to make sure they’re set to the tightest levels. But don’t get too comfortable. Facebook has shown it considers privacy settings a fleeting choice. Assume that anything you’ve ever posted on the site could eventually be made public.
Be business savvy. It’s good to have some workplace friends and business colleagues as online friends. It makes you seem more like a well-rounded person and can help you build connections with people who might hire you or throw business your way in the future. But don’t grouse about work or customers on Facebook or Twitter, and don’t annoy your ‘friends’ by simply promoting your company with every post.
Limit your photo fun. People who aren’t your friends can often see pictures of you. Even though you can restrict the distribution of pictures you post yourself through your privacy settings in Facebook, other people can post pictures of you that can become public. Furthermore, both Twitter and Facebook consider themselves owners of the photos you post. So skip the beer pong shots and reserve that pole-dancing episode for your boyfriend, and only then if you really trust him to never break up with you and post it himself.
MY THOUGTHS
it's really very unsettling when someone else posts your pics for everyone else to see. i think there should be a rule that we should ask permission first before posting pics with others on it. or maybe just don't tag the pics. i used to just post pics mysef not knowing that i should change the privacy settings. now i know a better.
By Linda Stern
Facebook recently changed its privacy settings and started pasting personal data all over the web, prompting some users to quit the site and many more to scrub their profiles of interesting bits. Google “accidentally” collected massive amounts of random personal data while its roving vans were supposed to be mapping streets. A waitress in North Carolina was fired after she used her status update to complain about a lousy tip. Oh… and your underwear is showing.
Just kidding about that last one, but these are clearly tough times for people who care about their privacy. These events should force us all to accept the truth: It’s over. If you’re using Facebook, Google, Twitter, a credit card, an online banking site, or any networked computer you’ve already got billions of bits of data floating everywhere. And that data is handled and massaged by thousands of clerks, coders, advertising consultants, and random wastepaper-basket emptiers. Even if everyone involved aims to “do no evil” as Google’s motto claims, mistakes happen.
So it falls to you to try to make sure those mistakes — or outright thefts — don’t hurt you. That doesn’t mean going net free or even living off of the social networking grid; that’s just too big a sacrifice for most people. But it does mean being more judicious about how your info is handled. And it also means choosing what to worry about and what not to worry about. Here are some recommendations:
Worry about your financial data. Use only the most trustworthy banking and financial management sites, and monitor your accounts regularly to make sure that there isn’t any unauthorized access going on. CBS MoneyWatch has produced an excellent guide to protecting your financial identity.
Accept some lack of privacy for the rest of your data. It’s the price you’ll pay for online fun and convenience. Does it matter if everyone knows you’re a soccer player or gardener or lover of old school hip hop music? Maybe not. But do you want to “like” particular products or companies that will use your click as an unpaid endorsement? If you suspect that publicizing your strong political opinions or your costly stored-at-home gold coin collection could be dangerous to your career or safety, keep them off of your social profiles.
Check your Facebook settings. A nifty new program called Privacy Scanner can check your Facebook settings to make sure they’re set to the tightest levels. But don’t get too comfortable. Facebook has shown it considers privacy settings a fleeting choice. Assume that anything you’ve ever posted on the site could eventually be made public.
Be business savvy. It’s good to have some workplace friends and business colleagues as online friends. It makes you seem more like a well-rounded person and can help you build connections with people who might hire you or throw business your way in the future. But don’t grouse about work or customers on Facebook or Twitter, and don’t annoy your ‘friends’ by simply promoting your company with every post.
Limit your photo fun. People who aren’t your friends can often see pictures of you. Even though you can restrict the distribution of pictures you post yourself through your privacy settings in Facebook, other people can post pictures of you that can become public. Furthermore, both Twitter and Facebook consider themselves owners of the photos you post. So skip the beer pong shots and reserve that pole-dancing episode for your boyfriend, and only then if you really trust him to never break up with you and post it himself.
MY THOUGTHS
it's really very unsettling when someone else posts your pics for everyone else to see. i think there should be a rule that we should ask permission first before posting pics with others on it. or maybe just don't tag the pics. i used to just post pics mysef not knowing that i should change the privacy settings. now i know a better.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
6 Things You Should Never Reveal on Facebook
6 Things You Should Never Reveal on Facebook
By Kathy Kristof
The whole social networking phenomenon has millions of Americans sharing their photos, favorite songs and details about their class reunions on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and dozens of similar sites. But there are a handful of personal details that you should never say if you don’t want criminals — cyber or otherwise — to rob you blind, according to Beth Givens, executive director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.
The folks at Insure.com also say that ill-advised Facebook postings increasingly can get your insurance cancelled or cause you to pay dramatically more for everything from auto to life insurance coverage. By now almost everybody knows that those drunken party photos could cost you a job, too.
You can certainly enjoy networking and sharing photos, but you should know that sharing some information puts you at risk. What should you never say on Facebook, Twitter or any other social networking site?
Your birth date and place. Sure, you can say what day you were born, but if you provide the year and where you were born too, you’ve just given identity thieves a key to stealing your financial life, said Givens. A study done by Carnegie Mellon showed that a date and place of birth could be used to predict most — and sometimes all — of the numbers in your Social Security number, she said.
Vacation plans. There may be a better way to say “Rob me, please” than posting something along the lines of: “Count-down to Maui! Two days and Ritz Carlton, here we come!” on Twitter. But it’s hard to think of one. Post the photos on Facebook when you return, if you like. But don’t invite criminals in by telling them specifically when you’ll be gone.
Home address. Do I have to elaborate? A study recently released by the Ponemon Institute found that users of Social Media sites were at greater risk of physical and identity theft because of the information they were sharing. Some 40% listed their home address on the sites; 65% didn’t even attempt to block out strangers with privacy settings. And 60% said they weren’t confident that their “friends” were really just people they know.
Confessionals. You may hate your job; lie on your taxes; or be a recreational user of illicit drugs, but this is no place to confess. Employers commonly peruse social networking sites to determine who to hire — and, sometimes, who to fire. Need proof? In just the past few weeks, an emergency dispatcher was fired in Wisconsin for revealing drug use; a waitress got canned for complaining about customers and the Pittsburgh Pirate’s mascot was dumped for bashing the team on Facebook. One study done last year estimated that 8% of companies fired someone for “misuse” of social media.
Password clues. If you’ve got online accounts, you’ve probably answered a dozen different security questions, telling your bank or brokerage firm your Mom’s maiden name; the church you were married in; or the name of your favorite song. Got that same stuff on the information page of your Facebook profile? You’re giving crooks an easy way to guess your passwords.
Risky behaviors. You take your classic Camaro out for street racing, soar above the hills in a hang glider, or smoke like a chimney? Insurers are increasingly turning to the web to figure out whether their applicants and customers are putting their lives or property at risk, according to Insure.com. So far, there’s no efficient way to collect the data, so cancellations and rate hikes are rare. But the technology is fast evolving, according to a paper written by Celent, a financial services research and consulting firm.
MY THOUGHTS
it's fun, isn't it? all these networki g sites where you get to link up with all those people and friends. i'm getting a little uneasy though. i googled myself and i just realized that losing your privacy may not be my cup of tea afterall. well, i still like getting in touch with friends - but not the world (haha). these tips are worth remembering.
By Kathy Kristof
The whole social networking phenomenon has millions of Americans sharing their photos, favorite songs and details about their class reunions on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and dozens of similar sites. But there are a handful of personal details that you should never say if you don’t want criminals — cyber or otherwise — to rob you blind, according to Beth Givens, executive director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.
The folks at Insure.com also say that ill-advised Facebook postings increasingly can get your insurance cancelled or cause you to pay dramatically more for everything from auto to life insurance coverage. By now almost everybody knows that those drunken party photos could cost you a job, too.
You can certainly enjoy networking and sharing photos, but you should know that sharing some information puts you at risk. What should you never say on Facebook, Twitter or any other social networking site?
Your birth date and place. Sure, you can say what day you were born, but if you provide the year and where you were born too, you’ve just given identity thieves a key to stealing your financial life, said Givens. A study done by Carnegie Mellon showed that a date and place of birth could be used to predict most — and sometimes all — of the numbers in your Social Security number, she said.
Vacation plans. There may be a better way to say “Rob me, please” than posting something along the lines of: “Count-down to Maui! Two days and Ritz Carlton, here we come!” on Twitter. But it’s hard to think of one. Post the photos on Facebook when you return, if you like. But don’t invite criminals in by telling them specifically when you’ll be gone.
Home address. Do I have to elaborate? A study recently released by the Ponemon Institute found that users of Social Media sites were at greater risk of physical and identity theft because of the information they were sharing. Some 40% listed their home address on the sites; 65% didn’t even attempt to block out strangers with privacy settings. And 60% said they weren’t confident that their “friends” were really just people they know.
Confessionals. You may hate your job; lie on your taxes; or be a recreational user of illicit drugs, but this is no place to confess. Employers commonly peruse social networking sites to determine who to hire — and, sometimes, who to fire. Need proof? In just the past few weeks, an emergency dispatcher was fired in Wisconsin for revealing drug use; a waitress got canned for complaining about customers and the Pittsburgh Pirate’s mascot was dumped for bashing the team on Facebook. One study done last year estimated that 8% of companies fired someone for “misuse” of social media.
Password clues. If you’ve got online accounts, you’ve probably answered a dozen different security questions, telling your bank or brokerage firm your Mom’s maiden name; the church you were married in; or the name of your favorite song. Got that same stuff on the information page of your Facebook profile? You’re giving crooks an easy way to guess your passwords.
Risky behaviors. You take your classic Camaro out for street racing, soar above the hills in a hang glider, or smoke like a chimney? Insurers are increasingly turning to the web to figure out whether their applicants and customers are putting their lives or property at risk, according to Insure.com. So far, there’s no efficient way to collect the data, so cancellations and rate hikes are rare. But the technology is fast evolving, according to a paper written by Celent, a financial services research and consulting firm.
MY THOUGHTS
it's fun, isn't it? all these networki g sites where you get to link up with all those people and friends. i'm getting a little uneasy though. i googled myself and i just realized that losing your privacy may not be my cup of tea afterall. well, i still like getting in touch with friends - but not the world (haha). these tips are worth remembering.
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